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UNDATED (AP) - As drivers put a lot of miles on their cars during Thanksgiving, they're paying more at the pump than a year ago -- but they still have reason to be thankful.

Prices in many parts of the country have fallen recently, and Triple-A says gas prices could finish the year lower than where they started.

The national average today is $3.43, down 44 cents from mid-September but still 8 cents higher than a year ago.

Because the price was so high for so much of the year, Americans are likely to spend a record amount for gas by year's end. The Oil Price Information Service estimates that Americans will spend about $483 billion on fuel this year, topping last year's record of $474 billion.